Receiving accumulating apparatus, sending apparatus, broadcasting system, receive accumulating method, sending method, broadcasting method, program and medium

ABSTRACT

A broadcasting system comprises a transmission apparatus, which multiplexes stream-format data based on a stream transmission protocol and file-format data based on a file transmission protocol with each other and sends them as a single stream, and receiving apparatuses which receive and temporarily accumulate stream-format data and file-format data which are sent as they are multiplexed with each other, and stream-format data and file-format data are temporarily accumulated as they directly are in the form of a single stream, all or some of file-format data are reproduced later at predetermined timing and accumulated once again as a file.

THIS APPLICATION IS A U.S. NATIONAL PHASE APPLICATION OF PCTINTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PCT/JP01/05365.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a receive accumulating apparatus, asending apparatus, a broadcasting system, a receive accumulating method,a sending method, a broadcasting method, a program and a medium, usedfor a cumulative broadcasting service, in which information such aselectronic newspapers which is sent as a broadcast on electric waves ora communication on the Internet and is updated as time elapses, and thelike are temporarily accumulated so that a user watches the accumulatedcontent.

BACKGROUND ART

“Cumulative broadcasting service” and “Server-type broadcasting service”sometimes refer to a service that data distributed via broadcasting areautomatically accumulated temporarily within a receiving apparatus andupdated and a user watches the cumulative data at desired time.

Conventional techniques will now be described with reference todrawings. The same elements and portions will be denoted at the samereference symbols among a plurality of drawings and will not bedescribed redundantly.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a phase of accumulating data for acumulative broadcasting service in a receiving apparatus according to aconventional technique.

Before describing the phase of accumulating data, a structure of theconventional receiving apparatus will be described first.

The conventional receiving apparatus comprises a tuner 210, a TS decoder220, accumulating means 230, an AV decoder 240, graphics drawing means250, presenting means 260, inputting means 270, a CPU 281, a RAM 282 anda ROM 283.

The tuner 210 receives a broadcasting wave and outputs an MPEG (MovingPicture Experts Group) 2-TS (Transport Stream) which is the signalformat of a bit stream in which video, speech and data are multiplexedwith each other. MPEG2-TS is defined in ISO/IEC 13818-1 which is aninternational standard, “Information Technology-Coding of MovingPictures and Associated Audio for Digital Storage Media at up to about1.5 Mbit/s—Part 1: Systems.” and used as a standard in the world formultiplexed transmission of video, speech and data in digitalbroadcasting.

The TS decoder 220 receives an MPEG2-TS outputted from the tuner 210,and separates video, speech and the other data from each other andoutputs or deciphers a code.

The TS decoder 220 comprises a descrambler 221, a PID filter 222 and asection filter 223.

The descrambler 221 deciphers codes on an MPEG2-TS used in digitalbroadcasting. As such codes, Multi-2 or the like is used in Japan. ThePID filter 222 extracts particular information, such as particular videoalone, from an MPEG2-TS supplied to the TS decoder 220. Information ismultiplexed in the unit of packets which are called TS packets definedby MPEG2-TS and each having 188 bytes, and distinguished by a 13-bitfield which is added to each packet and called PID (packet id). Forexample, when video alone needs to be extracted from an MPEG2-TS inwhich video, speech and data are multiplexed with each other, it is onlynecessary to selectively extract those TS packets which have PIDs whichare assigned to video. The PID filter 222 is capable of extracting TSpackets which have one PID or a plurality of PIDs designated in advancefrom a received MPEG2-TS.

Further, the PID filter 222 supplies three outputs, (1) one to theaccumulating means 230, (2) another to the section filter 223 and (3)the other to the AV decoder 240, and is capable of designating one ormore than one PIDs to each output and simultaneously processing them.

The section filter 223 selects a data structure called a DSM-CC section(hereinafter sometimes referred to simply as “section”) contained in anMPEG2-TS outputted from the PID filter 222.

DSM-CC and a DSM-CC section are a data structure of maximum about 4 Kbytes defined in ISO/IEC 13818-6 which is an international standard,“Part 6: Extensions for Digital Storage Media Command and Control,”contains fields such as table_id which is 8 bits, table_id_(—)extensionof 16 bits, section_number of 8 bits and version_number of 5 bits whichexpresses a version, and identified by means of these fields. Hence, inthe same transmission path, the contents of sections in which thesefields are identical are the same with each other (during a period inwhich these ids are used up but will not be assigned once again).

On some occasions, in the field of data broadcasting, data contentrefers to still pictures which constitute a data broadcast or such datadescribed in BML (Broadcasting Markup Language), which is a descriptivelanguage for descriptions on the screen, created on the premise that thedata will be presented to users.

Further, in cumulative broadcasting, for the purpose of managing datacontent, video, speech and the like stored in a cumulative medium of areceiving apparatus, an additional information file called meta data isused. Meta data herein referred to are described by XML (eXtensibleMarkup Language), etc. Stored in meta data are information needed tomanage the version of data content, expiration dates and the like. Withthe meta data interpreted, it is possible to update the data content,video, speech and the like stored by the receiving apparatus in thecumulative medium or delete those which have already expired.

While data content and meta data are information in the so-called fileformat, as an air format for transmission of such information, a schemecalled a DSM-CC data carrousel is used. A DSM-CC data carrousel istransmitted using the sections described earlier. In other words, thisis an air format located in an upper layer above the sections. Files aretransmitted in the unit of so-called modules.

Like DSM-CC sections, modules and DSM-CC data carrousels are defined inISO/IEC 13818-6, an international standard.

The accumulating means 230 is a hard disk drive. The accumulating means230 is capable of receiving and accumulating streams, such as anMPEG2-TS, outputted from the TS decoder 220, outputting an accumulatedMPEG2-TS, or writing and reading data developed in the RAM 282 as afile.

The accumulating means 230 includes an area 231 in which streams areaccumulated and an area 232 in which files are accumulated. These areascorrespond to partitions which are physically ensured on theaccumulating means 230.

With respect to the area 231 in which streams are accumulated, the bytecount of a block, which is the minimum unit for writing in theaccumulating means 230, is set relatively large, so as to realizecontinuous writing/reading at a high speed.

On the other hand, with respect to the area 232 in which files areaccumulated, the byte count of a block is relatively small, for thepurpose of enhancing the processing speed for reading and writing of asmall file through random accesses and improving the utilizationefficiency of the area, instead of prioritizing continuous writing.

The AV decoder 240 receives an MPEG2-TS outputted from the TS decoder220, decodes a multiplexed video and speech stream from the MPEG2-TS andaccordingly converts into a video signal and a speech signal.

The graphics drawing means 250, under the control of the CPU 281,displays GUI (Graphic User Interface) on the screen and pastes in theGUI screen the video signal outputted by the AV decoder 240.

The presenting means 260 is a telereceiver or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)which comprises a video input and a speech input. The presenting means260 may comprise a speaker.

The inputting means 270 is an input device which accepts manipulationsgiven by a viewer, and comprises an infrared remote controller and alight receiver unit for the infrared remote controller for instance.

The CPU 281 is a central processing unit used in an ordinary computer(CPU; Central Processing Unit).

The RAM 282 is a main memory RAM (Random Access Memory) formed by asemiconductor memory and used in an ordinary computer.

The ROM 283 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing a program and thelike formed by a semiconductor memory and used in an ordinary computer.

The phase of accumulating data for a cumulative broadcasting service inthe conventional receiving apparatus will now be described.

First, the PID filter 222 is provided with designation as for the PID ofvideo and speech to be accumulated. In response, as denoted at the arrow811 in FIG. 8, an AV stream is outputted. On some occasions, a partialTS refers to such an MPEG2-TS which is obtained by extracting only onepair of video and speech in particular from the MPEG2-TS containingvarious data and added some additional information. The AV streamdenoted at the arrow 811 can also be said as a partial TS.

Next, the AV stream 811 is stored in the area 231 of the accumulatingmeans 230 for accumulating streams, whereby AV streams get accumulatedin the accumulating means 230 as streams of data 801.

Meanwhile, in the PID filter 222, PIDs are designated with which data ofa data carrousel, which contains such data as MBL documents or stillpictures to be accumulated, are transmitted. As a result, the MPEG2-TSof a data carrousel designated at the arrow 821 is extracted.

Next, a desired section is selected from the MPEG2-TS of the datacarrousel by the section filter 223 and outputted as data in the sectionformat. Thus outputted section format data are stored by the CPU 281 inthe RAM 282, as a data carrousel is decoded, a file transmitted by meansof the data carrousel is created.

Then, the created files are stored in the area 232 for accumulatingfiles of the accumulating means 230 as file 802.

If there are meta data within thus created file, the CPU 281 interpretsthe meta data. Meta data contain information for controlling accumulatedcontent, such as correlation between files to be accumulated,information regarding names and the like for presentation to users,information regarding expiration dates, copyright and the like, andinformation regarding versions, scheduling and the like of updating.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a phase of reproducing data fora cumulative broadcasting service in the conventional receivingapparatus.

First, as denoted at the arrow 911, data 802 stored in the fileaccumulation area 232 of the accumulating means 230 are read out (802 isa BML document for instance).

Next, storing in the RAM 282 is carried out, the CPU 281 starts up a BMLengine and the BML document is interpreted, whereby the graphics drawingmeans 250 creates a GUI screen.

The status of the BML engine then transits in accordance with an inputprovided through the inputting means 270.

Assume now that reproduction of video and speech is instructed duringthe status transition. As denoted at the arrow 921, the AV streams 801stored in the stream accumulation area 231 of the accumulating means 230are outputted and fed to the PID filter 222.

Following this, as denoted at the arrow 922, these are supplied to theAV decoder 240 via the PID filter 222 and reproduced.

By the way, a possible state in cumulative broadcasting may be thatvideo and speech used for cumulative broadcasting, data content and metadata are transmitted from the broadcast. On this occasion, it isnecessary for the accumulating means to receive and accumulate the videoand speech and the data content simultaneously. Further, concurrentlywith the accumulation, the accumulated content is processed byreceiving, decoding and interpreting the meta data.

While a high-volume cumulative medium which can be accessed at random,such as a hard disk and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)-RAM, may beselected as the cumulative medium, such a random access accompaniesphysical movements of a head for reading and writing. Hence, writing ofdata in the cumulative medium or retrieval of data from the cumulativemedium is interrupted for or over a certain period of time before andafter the head movements, and when reading and writing accompanying headmovements are demanded even for a small file during continuous readingand writing of video and speech which need a particularly high transferrate, reading and writing of the video and speech may not complete intime.

A hard disk in particular for example, being tuned so as to suit readingand writing of a relatively small file through random accesses, is notgood at reading and writing at a high transfer rate.

A conventional approach therefore is to prepare a file mode which isoptimized for reading and writing of a file and a stream mode which isoptimized for reading and writing of a stream such as video and speech,and to use a block having a larger byte count in which the cumulativemedium is physically read out or written in the stream mode therebyenhancing capabilities (Methods for this include a method which realizesthis by means of an operation mode of the cumulative medium itself and amethod which logically realizes this by means of software which isexecuted by a CPU of the receiving apparatus.).

However, an area which is written in under the stream mode and an areawhich is written in under the file mode are associated with partitionswhich are physically different areas on the cumulative medium. Becauseof this, the head must move a far distance between the stream mode andthe file mode, and occurrence of processing in the file mode in themiddle of the stream mode serves as an obstacle hindering the processingunder the stream mode (Although it is possible to avoid a drop inprocessing speed with better capabilities of the cumulative medium suchas a hard disk, the CPU of the receiving apparatus and the like ofcourse, this may make the apparatus expensive or increase theconsumption power.).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Considering the problems above with the conventional techniques, thepresent invention aims at providing a receive accumulating apparatus, asending apparatus, a broadcasting system, a receive accumulating method,a sending method, a broadcasting method, a program and a medium whichrealize inexpensively a cumulative broadcasting service without missingdata content, meta data, video and speech or adversely influencing otherdata processing.

One aspect of the present invention is a receive accumulating apparatusof receiving video and/or speech data and file-format data which aresent as they are multiplexed with each other from the side of a sendingapparatus, which multiplexes video and/or speech data encoded based on astream transmission protocol and file-format data encoded based on afile transmission protocol with each other and sends said video and/orspeech data and said file-format data as a single stream, andtemporarily accumulating said stream-format data and said file-formatdata as they directly are in the form of a single stream,

wherein all or some of said file-format data are decoded later atpredetermined timing and accumulated once again as a file.

Another aspect of the present invention is the receive accumulatingapparatus, wherein said video and/or speech data and said file-formatdata which are temporarily accumulated as a single stream are reproducedutilizing all or some of said file-format data which are accumulatedonce again.

Still another aspect of the present invention is the receiveaccumulating apparatus, wherein said predetermined timing is such timingwhich does not obstruct predetermined data processing which needs inreal time.

Yet still another aspect of the present invention is the receiveaccumulating apparatus, wherein decoding of all or some of saidfile-format data is executed at a predetermined processing speed.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention is the receiveaccumulating apparatus, wherein said file-format data contain meta data,

there is a temporary memory which temporarily stores said meta data, and

said meta data are stored in said temporary memory after decoded at saidpredetermined timing as said file-format data, and used for managementof said data which are accumulated.

A further aspect of the present invention is the receive accumulatingapparatus, wherein (1) accumulation of said video and/or speech data andsaid file-format data which are to be temporarily accumulated as asingle stream and (2) accumulation of all or some of said file-formatdata which are to be decoded and accumulated once again as a file areexecuted using accumulation areas which are physically and/or logicallydifferent from each other.

A still further aspect of the present invention is the receiveaccumulating apparatus, wherein said stream transmission protocol isMPEG Video and/or MPEG Audio,

said file transmission protocol is a DSM-CC data carrousel, and

the format of said single stream is MPEG-2TS.

A yet further aspect of the present invention is the receiveaccumulating apparatus, wherein temporary accumulation of said videoand/or speech data and said file-format data as a single stream iscarried out through isochronous transfer according to IEEE1394, and

re-accumulation of all or some of said file-format data as a file iscarried out through asynchronous transfer according to IEEE1394.

An additional aspect of the present invention is a broadcasting systemwhich comprises: a sending apparatus which multiplexes video and/orspeech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocol andfile-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocol with eachother and sends said video and/or speech data and said file-format dataas a single stream; and

a receive accumulating apparatus which receives said video and/or speechdata and said file-format data which are sent as multiplexed with eachother and temporarily accumulates said video and/or speech data and saidfile-format data as they directly are in the form of a single stream,

wherein all or some of said file-format data are decoded later atpredetermined timing and accumulated once again as a file.

A still additional aspect of the present invention is a receiveaccumulating method, comprising:

a first step of receiving video and/or speech data and file-format datawhich are sent as multiplexed with each other from the side of a sendingapparatus, which multiplexes video and/or speech data encoded based on astream transmission protocol and file-format data encoded based on afile transmission protocol with each other and sends said video and/orspeech data and said file-format data as a single stream, andtemporarily accumulating said video and/or speech data and saidfile-format data as they directly are in the form of a single stream;and

a second step of decoding all or some of said file-format data later atpredetermined timing and accumulating said all or some of saidfile-format data once again as a file.

A still yet additional aspect of the present invention is a broadcastingmethod, comprising:

a first step of multiplexing video and/or speech data encoded based on astream transmission protocol and file-format data encoded based on afile transmission protocol with each other and sending said video and/orspeech and said file-format data as a single stream;

a second step of receiving said video and/or speech data and saidfile-format data which are sent as multiplexed with each other andtemporarily accumulating said video and/or speech data and saidfile-format data as they directly are in the form of a single stream;and

a third step of decoding all or some of said file-format data later atpredetermined timing and accumulating said all or some of saidfile-format data once again as a file.

A supplementary aspect of the present invention is a program which makesa computer function as all or some part of the steps in the receiveaccumulating method, namely, the first step of receiving video and/orspeech data and file-format data which are sent as multiplexed with eachother from the side of a sending apparatus, which multiplexes videoand/or speech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocol andfile-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocol with eachother and sends said video and/or speech data and said file-format dataas a single stream, and temporarily accumulating said video and/orspeech data and said file-format data as they directly are in the formof a single stream; and the second step of decoding all or some of saidfile-format data later at predetermined timing and accumulating said allor some of said file-format data once again as a file.

A yet supplementary aspect of the present invention is a program whichmakes a computer function as all or some part of the steps in thebroadcasting method, namely, the first step of multiplexing video and/orspeech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocol andfile-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocol with eachother and sending said video and/or speech data and said file-formatdata as a single stream; the second step of receiving said video and/orspeech data and said file-format data which are sent as multiplexed witheach other and temporarily accumulating said video and/or speech dataand said file-format data as they directly are in the form of a singlestream; and the third step of decoding all or some of said file-formatdata later at predetermined timing and accumulating said all or some ofsaid file-format data once again as a file.

A still yet supplementary aspect of the present invention is a mediumwhich can be processed on a computer and which carries the program.

Another aspect of the present invention is a medium which can beprocessed on a computer and which carries the program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a broadcasting system for cumulativebroadcasting according to a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a receiving apparatus according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an accumulation phase in the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a delayed decoding phase in thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a processing flow chart of the accumulation phase and thedelayed decoding phase in the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reproduction phase in a receivingapparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a processing flow chart of the reproduction phase in the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional accumulation phase;and

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional reproduction phase.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   100 broadcasting system-   110 transmission apparatus-   111 content creating means-   112 content storing means-   113 transmission scheduler-   114 AV encoder-   115 data broadcast transmission means-   116 transmission means-   120 propagating means-   131 receiving apparatus #1-   132 receiving apparatus #2-   133 receiving apparatus #n

BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the associated drawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

First, a structure of a broadcasting system according to a firstpreferred embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1is a block diagram of the broadcasting system for cumulativebroadcasting according to the first preferred embodiment.

Denoted at 100 is a broadcasting system as a whole according to thepresent invention. The broadcasting system 100 comprises a transmissionapparatus (sending apparatus) 110, propagating means 120, and aplurality of receiving apparatuses (receive accumulating apparatuses)131, 132 and 133.

The transmission apparatus 110 is a facility located in a broadcastingstation which transmits data which are relevant to a cumulativebroadcast. The transmission apparatus 110 comprises content creatingmeans 111, content storing means 112, a transmission scheduler 113, anAV encoder 114, a data broadcast transmission apparatus 115, andtransmission means 116.

The content creating means 111 is an authoring tool for creating a BMLdocument, a still picture, video and speech and the like, associatesthem and accordingly creates content. Further, the content creatingmeans creates meta data at the same time which are information forcontrolling accumulated content.

The content storing means 112 stores the content created by the contentcreating means 111.

The transmission scheduler 113 instructs the content storing means 112to output a BML document, a still picture, video/speech and meta datawhich constitute the content in accordance with a transmission scheduleregarding a cumulative broadcast.

The AV encoder 114 encodes video and speech stored in the contentstoring means in a format which is suitable to transmission. Forinstance, the AV encoder 114 comprises an MPEG2-Video encoder and anMPEG2-AudioAAC (Advanced Audio Codec) encoder.

The data broadcast transmission apparatus 115 receives the BML document,the still picture, the meta data and the like outputted from the contentstoring means 112, encodes them by means of the DSM-CC data carrousel.

The transmission means 116 multiplexes the outputs from the AV encoder114 and the data broadcast transmission means 115, and further, convertsthem into a format which is suitable to transmission by the propagatingmeans 120 and outputs them. The transmission means 116 may be anMPEG2-TS multiplexer used in transmission facilities for digitalbroadcasting.

The propagating means 120 transmits the output from the transmissionapparatus to one or more than one receiving apparatuses 131, 132 and 133which are located at physically far places. In the event that thebroadcasting system 100 assumes BS (Broadcast Satellite) digitalbroadcasting, the propagating means 120 is an uplink facility to asatellite, a BS broadcast satellite and BS dishes attached to therespective receiving apparatuses.

The receiving apparatuses 131, 132 and 133 are receiving apparatuseswhich are compatible with cumulative broadcasting. In the field ofbroadcasting systems, in general, a great number of receivingapparatuses are present in one broadcasting system.

The details of the receiving apparatuses according to the firstpreferred embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the receiving apparatuses according to thefirst preferred embodiment.

The receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises thetuner 210, the TS decoder 220, the accumulating means 230, the AVdecoder 240, the graphics drawing means 250, the presenting means 260,the inputting means 270, the CPU 281, the RAM 282 and the ROM 283.

Similar hardware may be used, as is apparent from the fact that the samereference symbols as those assigned to the conventional receivingapparatus described with reference to FIG. 8 are used. However, sincesoftware is different, a computer program stored in the ROM 283, a datastructure stored in the RAM 282 or data stored in the accumulating means230 for instance is different.

Next, operations in the broadcasting system according to the firstpreferred embodiment will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 3through 7. While describing the operations in the broadcasting systemaccording to the first preferred embodiment, an example of abroadcasting method (a receive accumulating method and a sending method)according to the present invention will be concurrently described.

The operations and flow charts for realizing the operations will now bedescribed, instead of directly describing these programs or datastructures.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an accumulation phase in thereceiving apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment.Illustrated in this drawing is processing in which at the same time withtransmission of video and speech which constitute a cumulativebroadcast, data of a data carrousel for communication of data content,meta data or the like are transmitted and the data are received by andaccumulated in the receiving apparatus.

As denoted at the arrow 311, a PID corresponding to an AV stream 311 aand data 311 b of the data carrousel is set up in the PID filter 222 andoutputted as one MPEG2-TS to the accumulating means 230, and the AVstream 311 a and the data 311 b of the data carrousel as they aremultiplexed with each other are accumulated during transmission as astream 301 within the stream accumulation area 231.

Although it is usual that data of a data carrousel are stored in the RAM282 via the section filter 223 from the PID filter 222 so that the datawill be stored as file in the file accumulation area 232, in thisexample, the data are accumulated as a stream.

In other words, although writing in the stream accumulation area 231 issimultaneous with writing in the file accumulation area 232 at theaccumulation phase according to the conventional techniques, onlywriting of a stream is executed according to the present invention. Thisobviates simultaneous occurrence of writing of a file which willotherwise obstruct writing of a stream, and hence allows theaccumulating means to accumulate data with a margin for the purpose ofreceiving processing which needs be in real time.

While the streams 301 in which video and speech and a data carrousel aremultiplexed with each other are accumulated in the stream accumulationarea, a stream as it directly is does not permit interpretation of metadata contained in a data carrousel or reproduction of data content.

Noting this, at the delayed decoding phase, a data carrousel isdeveloped as post-processing after the accumulation phase and a file isaccordingly decoded. The post-processing may complete until reproductionof cumulative broadcasting.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a delayed decoding phase in thereceiving apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment.

First, as denoted at the arrow 411, the accumulating means 230 outputsthe stream 301 accumulated in the stream accumulation area 231. Thestream contains an AV stream 411 a and data 411 b of a data carrousel.

The PID filter 222 designates a PID which corresponds to a datacarrousel, and only data carrousel 412 is outputted.

This is stored in the RAM 282 via the section filter 223, and the CPU281 decodes the data carrousel. This is then accumulated in the fileaccumulation area 232 as a file 401 as denoted at the arrow 414.

Since the speed of outputting the accumulated stream 301 from theaccumulating means can be freely designated for the post-processing, thereceiving apparatus can execute the processing with a processing loadwithin a tolerable range of load without obstructing other processing.In addition, even if the speed of outputting the stream 301 isdynamically changed during the processing, the processing completiontime alone changes and exactly the same result will be obtained.

The accumulation phase described with reference to FIG. 3 and thedelayed decoding phase described with reference to FIG. 4 will now bedescribed using a flow chart.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow chart of the accumulation phase and thedelayed decoding phase in the receiving apparatus according to the firstpreferred embodiment.

(Step 501) The tuner 210 receives a cumulative broadcast.

(Step 502) The PID of a stream contained in the cumulative broadcast tobe accumulated is selected.

A PID is obtained using SI (Service Information) information such as PMT(Program Map Table) sent during broadcasting. A PMT corresponds toprograms and contains PIDs which are used for transmission of video,speech, a data carrousel and the like which constitute the respectiveprograms. PMTs and SI are described in ARIB STD-B10 “Service Informationfor Digital Broadcasting System” by the Association of Radio Industriesand Businesses for standardization of digital broadcasting in Japan.

(Step 503) In the PID filter, all values of video, speech and anecessary data carrousel are set up as a PID for a stream output to theaccumulating means 230.

(Step 504) As denoted at the arrow 311, a stream which contains bothvideo/speech and a data carrousel is accumulated in the streamaccumulation area 231 via the tuner 210 and the PID filter 222.

(Step 505) The step 504 is repeated until accumulation has completed.

The above is a description regarding processing which corresponds to theaccumulation phase described with reference to FIG. 3, and processingwhich corresponds to the delayed decoding phase described with referenceto FIG. 4 will now be described.

(Step 506) The sequence waits at the step 506 until a load upon thereceiving apparatus becomes sufficiently low.

Which load in which portion this load specifically is differs dependingon a bottleneck in the receiving apparatus. For example, the load iscalculated from the quality and the quantity of a write/read request tothe accumulating means 230.

(Step 507) The PID of the data carrousel is set up in a section outputfrom the PID filter.

(Step 508) The accumulating means 230 causes the streams accumulated inthe stream accumulation area 231 to be outputted at a speed which thereceiving apparatus can process (This speed may be calculated from thecalculation of the load at the step 506.).

(Step 509) A section which transmits the data carrousel is stored in theRAM 282 via the section filter 223, and the CPU 281 decodes the datacarrousel.

(Step 510) The result of the decoding is accumulated in the fileaccumulation area 232 of the accumulating means 230 as a file.

Of course, at this stage, the meta data contained in the data carrouselis interpreted, and the cumulative data are updated, expired data aredeleted, or data to be accumulated are selected.

(Step 511) The sequence returns to the step 508 and is repeated untilthe decoding of the data carrousel completes, and is terminated whenthere is no stream which contains the data carrousel to be decoded anymore.

At last, operations for a case in which a viewer demands reproduction ofa cumulative broadcast will be described.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reproduction phase in thereceiving apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment.

Here, since a stream accumulated in the stream accumulation area alsocontains the data carrousel, the operations at the reproduction phaseare similar to those at the conventional reproduction phase except thatthe data carrousel is to be removed using the PID filter 222. Sinceprocessing performed by the PID filter 222 does not impose a load uponthe CPU 281, when the method according to the present invention isadopted, there can arise no problem to a viewer such that dialogueprocessing becomes slow during reproduction of a BML document or thelike.

In FIG. 6, a file 802 representing data content stored in the fileaccumulation area 232 is outputted from the accumulating means 230 andthen stored in the RAM 282.

The CPU 281 interprets and executes this, whereby the graphics drawingmeans 250 creates a GUI screen.

As the viewer manipulated thus displayed GUI screen using the inputtingmeans 270, the data content stored in the file 802 is reproducedserially.

As reproduction of video and speech is designated during this, onlyvideo and speech are selected by the PID filter 222 from the video andspeech stream which contains the data carrousel and is stored in thestream accumulation area 231 of the accumulating means 230 and outputtedto the AV decoder 240. Since the video and speech stream fed to the AVdecoder is similar to a stream which is sent at a conventionalreproduction phase, any particular processing is not necessary.

FIG. 7 is a processing flow chart of the reproduction phase in thereceiving apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment.

(Step 710) The CPU interprets in the RAM 282 the BML document which isstored in the file accumulation area 232 and the graphics drawing means250 creates a GUI screen, whereby a top page which is a page to bedisplayed first in the BML document is reproduced and displayed.

(Step 720) As the viewer provides an input through the inputting means270 and accordingly manipulates the GUI screen, reproduction of video isinstructed.

(Step 730) Video and speech are reproduced.

The processing at the step 730 will now be divided into steps 731through 734 and described in detail.

(Step 731) The PID filter 222 designates the PID of video and speech.

(Step 732) The video and speech stream which contains the data carrouselstored in the stream accumulation area 231 is outputted from theaccumulating means 230.

(Step 733) The PID filter 222 selects only a TS packet having the PIDregarding the video and speech, and the AV decoder 240 reproduces this.

(Step 734) The sequence returns to the step 732 and is repeated untilthe reproduction of the video and speech completes. As the reproductionfinishes, the processing corresponding to the step 730 is terminated.

(Step 740) An input to the inputting means 270 from a viewer is waited.

(Step 750) In accordance with the input, the next page is displayed, andthe sequence returns to the step 720.

Although the foregoing has described that meta data, too, aretemporarily accumulated in the stream accumulation area 231 as a stream,in the event that meta data are sufficiently smaller than data contentor the number of files is small, meta data alone may be stored in theRAM 282 via the section filter 223 at a receiving phase and decoded onthe spot.

Even in this case, data content is accumulated in the streamaccumulation area 231 as a stream. Similar processing is executed exceptfor that only data content in the data carrousel is decoded at thedelayed decoding phase.

In the receiving apparatus, the receive accumulating method according tothe present invention and a conventional receive accumulating method maybe used in combination. For instance, the receive accumulating methodaccording to the present invention may be used in a situation that it isalready predictable that processing by the accumulating means 230 wouldnot be in time because of reserved recording, while a conventionalreceive accumulating method may be used in a situation that it isalready predictable processing by the accumulating means 230 would be intime.

Advantages of the conventional techniques are that it is possible toreproduce right upon completion of receiving and that the power sourceof the receiving apparatus may be turned off right upon completion ofreceiving. These advantages can be utilized if the conventional methodis automatically used together.

In addition, even when a viewer suddenly starts recording or otherwisesuddenly causes the accumulating means 230 not to process in time duringexecution of the conventional method, the sequence may shift to the dataaccumulation method according to the present invention in the middle ofaccumulation.

Conversely, in the event that the data accumulation method according tothe present invention is initiated but reserved recording ends duringexecution of the data accumulation method according to the presentinvention so that processing by the accumulating means 230 would be intime, from that time onward, the sequence may automatically shift to theconventional method.

Although the foregoing has described that a writing area on thecumulative medium are separated into physical/logical ones for streamsand files, even when a writing area is not divided into physical/logicalones, if streams and files are to be accumulated on the same cumulativemedium, file writing during stream writing obstructs the stream writing,and therefore, a similar problem arises if not to the same extent. Thedata accumulation method according to the present invention is directlyapplicable to such a situation as well.

Further, in the event that the accumulating means comprises IEEE1394,which is widely used for data transfer between digital AV equipments, asan interface, accumulation of streams may be realized by means ofisochronous transfer according to IEEE1394 and files may be writtenthrough asynchronous transfer according to IEEE1394. When asynchronoustransfer is executed during isochronous transfer, a processing speed fortransmission through isochronous transfer slows down and a similarproblem occurs. The data accumulation method according to the presentinvention is directly applied to solve a problem associated withIEEE1394.

Further, although the foregoing has described that a cumulativebroadcast is provided via a BS satellite, a cumulative broadcast can beprovided independently of propagating means. For instance, the presentinvention is directly applicable to terrestrial digital broadcasting andbroadcasting utilizing digital cable television sets or a multicasttechnique on the Internet.

The first preferred embodiment has been described in detail above.

The receive accumulating apparatuses according to the present inventionare the receiving apparatuses 131 through 133 (See FIG. 1.) in thepreferred embodiment above. However, this is not limiting. The receiveaccumulating apparatus according to the present invention is a receiveaccumulating apparatus which receives and temporarily accumulatesstream-format data and file-format data sent as they are multiplexedfrom a sending apparatus which multiplexes stream-format data based on astream transmission protocol and file-format data based on a filetransmission protocol and sends them as a single stream, and thestream-format data and the file-format data are temporarily accumulatedas a single stream and all or some of the file-format data arereproduced later at predetermined timing and accumulated once again as afile in the receive accumulating apparatus.

The sending apparatus according to the present invention is thetransmission apparatus 110 (See FIG. 1.) in the preferred embodimentabove. However, this is not limiting. The sending apparatus according tothe present invention is a sending apparatus which multiplexesstream-format data based on a stream transmission protocol andfile-format data based on a file transmission protocol with each otherand sends them as a single stream, and a receive accumulating apparatusof receiving and temporarily accumulating stream-format data andfile-format data which are multiplexed and sent and temporarilyaccumulates the stream-format data and the file-format data directly asa single stream, reproduces all or some of the file-format data later atpredetermined timing and accumulates once again as a file.

The broadcasting system according to present invention is thebroadcasting system 100 (See FIG. 1.) in the preferred embodiment above.However, this is not limiting. The broadcasting system according topresent invention is a broadcasting system which comprises a sendingapparatus of multiplexing stream-format data based on a streamtransmission protocol and file-format data based on a file transmissionprotocol with each other and sending them as a single stream, and areceive accumulating apparatus of receiving and temporarily accumulatingstream-format data and file-format data which are multiplexed and sent,in which stream-format data and file-format data are temporarilyaccumulated as a single stream and all or some of the file-format dataare reproduced later at predetermined timing and accumulated once againas a file.

The present invention is also directed to a program which operatesworking together with a computer and makes the computer execute thefunctions of all or some means (or apparatuses, elements, circuits,portions, etc.) of the receive accumulating apparatus, the sendingapparatus and the broadcasting system according to present invention. Ofcourse, a computer referred to in the present invention is not limitedto pure hardware, such as a CPU, but may include firmware, OS and evenperipheral equipments.

The present invention is also directed to a program which operatesworking together with a computer and makes the computer executeoperations at all or some steps (or processes, operations, functions,etc.) of the receive accumulating method, the sending method and thebroadcasting method according to present invention.

Some means (or apparatuses, elements, circuits, portions, etc.)according to present invention and some steps (or processes, operations,functions, etc.) according to present invention refer to some of meansor steps among these plurality of means or steps, or alternatively, somefunctions or operations of one means or step.

Some apparatuses (or elements, circuits, portions, etc.) according topresent invention refer to some of apparatuses among these plurality ofapparatuses, or some of means (or elements, circuits, portions, etc.)within one apparatus, or some of functions within one means.

The present invention also covers a recording medium which holds aprogram according to present invention and which can be read on acomputer. One embodiment of a program according to present invention maybe that the program is recorded on a recording medium which can be readon a computer and which operates working together with the computer.Alternatively, one embodiment of a program according to presentinvention may be that the program is transmitted through a transmissionmedium, read on a computer and operates working together with thecomputer. Recording mediums include a ROM and the like, whiletransmission mediums include such a transmission medium like theInternet, light, an electric wave, a sound wave, etc.

The structure according to present invention may be realized byhardware, or alternatively, by software.

The present invention is also directed to a medium which carries aprogram which makes a computer execute all or some functions of some orall means of the receive accumulating apparatus, the sending apparatusand the broadcasting system according to present invention, so that theprogram which can be read on a computer and is read on a computer wouldoperate working together with the computer and the functions would beexecuted.

The present invention is also directed to a medium which carries aprogram which makes a computer execute all or some operations at all orsome steps in the receive accumulating method, the sending method andthe broadcasting method according to present invention, so that theprogram which can be read on a computer and is read on a computer wouldoperate working together with the computer and the operations would beexecuted.

As described above, the present invention is directed to a dataaccumulation method which comprises a step 1 of receiving video and/orspeech and cumulative data and accumulating as a stream in a cumulativemedium, a step 2 of extracting and decoding cumulative data from theaccumulated stream and accumulating data content in thus decodedcumulative data on a cumulative medium as a file, a step 3 ofinterpreting meta data in the cumulative data decoded at the step 2 andcontrolling the accumulated content of the cumulative medium, and a step4 of extracting and reproducing video and/or speech from the stream whenthere is a request for reproduction of video and/or speech.

More specifically, in a cumulative broadcasting system which comprises asending apparatus, which sends video and/or speech through a streamtransmission protocol and cumulative data consisting of data content andmeta data through a file transmission protocol, and a receivingapparatus, which does thus received video and/or speech and thusreceived data content and controls accumulation on a cumulative mediumby interpreting thus received meta data, and reproduces the video and/orspeech and the data content stored on the cumulative medium inaccordance with a reproduction request, the present invention isdirected to a data accumulation method which comprises a step 1 ofreceiving the video and/or speech and the cumulative data andaccumulating on the cumulative medium as a stream, a step 2 ofextracting and decoding the cumulative data from the accumulated streamand accumulating data content in thus decoded cumulative data on thecumulative medium as a file, a step 3 of interpreting the meta data inthe cumulative data decoded at the step 2 and controlling theaccumulated content of the cumulative medium, and a step 4 of extractingand reproducing video and/or speech from the stream when there is arequest for reproduction of the video and/or speech.

Further, for example, in a cumulative broadcasting system whichcomprises a sending apparatus, which sends video and/or speech through astream transmission protocol and cumulative data consisting of datacontent and meta data through a file transmission protocol, and areceiving apparatus, which does thus received video and/or speech andthus received data content and controls accumulation on a cumulativemedium by interpreting thus received meta data, and reproduces the videoand/or speech and the data content stored on the cumulative medium inaccordance with a reproduction request, the present invention isdirected to a data accumulation method which comprises a step 1 ofreceiving the video and/or speech and the cumulative data andaccumulating the video and/or speech and the data content in thecumulative data on the cumulative medium as a stream, a step 2 ofdecoding the meta data in the received cumulative data and storing in amain memory, a step 3 of extracting and decoding the data content fromthe accumulated stream and accumulating thus decoded data content on thecumulative medium as a file, a step 4 of interpreting the meta datadecoded at the step 2 and controlling the accumulated content of thecumulative medium, and a step 5 of extracting and reproducing videoand/or speech from the stream when there is a request for reproductionof the video and/or speech.

For instance, the present invention is directed to the data accumulationmethod above which is characterized in that at the step of extractingand decoding the cumulative data from the accumulated stream, a speed ofoutputting streams from the cumulative medium is limited within a rangein which the receiving apparatus can perform processing.

For instance, the present invention is directed to the data accumulationmethod above which is characterized in that the stream transmissionprotocol above is MPEG-2TS, the file transmission protocol above is aDSM-CC data carrousel, streams are written on the cumulative mediumthrough isochronous transfer according to IEEE1394, and files arewritten on the cumulative medium through asynchronous transfer accordingto IEEE1394.

Further, for example, in a cumulative broadcasting system whichcomprises a sending apparatus, which sends video and/or speech through astream transmission protocol and cumulative data consisting of datacontent and meta data through a file transmission protocol, and areceiving apparatus, which does thus received video and/or speech andthus received data content and controls accumulation on a cumulativemedium by interpreting thus received meta data, and reproduces the videoand/or speech and the data content stored on the cumulative medium inaccordance with a reproduction request, the present invention isdirected to a receiving apparatus which comprises a tuner and a PIDfilter in a structure of the receiving apparatus, wherein the tunerreceives the video and/or speech and the cumulative data and sends themto the PID filter, the PID filter extracts through filtering the videoand/or speech and the cumulative data when there is an input receivedfrom the tuner, the extraction result of the filtering is accumulated inthe cumulative medium, the cumulative medium outputs thus accumulateddata to the PID filter upon completion of accumulation, the cumulativedata are extracted when the PID filter receives the video and/or speechand the cumulative data from the cumulative medium, the CPU decodes thecumulative data extracted by the accumulating means and the accumulatingmeans accumulates this while the meta data in thus decoded cumulativedata are interpreted so that the accumulated content of the cumulativemedium is controlled, and when there is a request for reproduction ofthe video and/or speech, the accumulating means outputs a streamcontaining thus accumulated video and/or speech and thus accumulatedcumulative data and the PID filter extracts the video and/or speech.

Further, for example, in a cumulative broadcasting system whichcomprises a sending apparatus, which sends video and/or speech through astream transmission protocol and cumulative data consisting of datacontent and meta data through a file transmission protocol, and areceiving apparatus, which does thus received video and/or speech andthus received data content and controls accumulation on a cumulativemedium by interpreting thus received meta data, and reproduces the videoand/or speech and the data content stored on the cumulative medium inaccordance with a reproduction request, the present invention isdirected to a receiving apparatus which comprises a tuner, a PID filter,a cumulative medium and a CPU in a structure of the receiving apparatus,wherein the tuner receives the video and/or speech and the cumulativedata and sends them to the PID filter, the PID filter extracts throughfiltering a pair of the video and/or speech and the data content and themeta data when there is an input received from the tuner, a pair of thevideo and/or speech and the data content extracted through filtering isaccumulated in the cumulative medium, the cumulative medium outputs thusaccumulated data to the PID filter upon completion of accumulation, thedata content is extracted when the PID filter receives the video and/orspeech and the data content from the cumulative medium, the CPU decodesthe data content extracted by the accumulating means and theaccumulating means accumulates this while the PID filter interprets thusextracted meta data so that the accumulated content of the cumulativemedium is controlled, and when there is a request for reproduction ofthe video and/or speech, the accumulating means outputs a streamcontaining thus accumulated video and/or speech and thus accumulatedcumulative data and the PID filter extracts the video and/or speech.

Further, for instance, the present invention is directed to the dataaccumulation method above which is characterized in that at the stage ofextracting and decoding the cumulative data from the accumulated stream,a speed of outputting streams from the cumulative medium is limitedwithin a range in which the receiving apparatus can perform processing.

Further, for instance, the present invention is directed to thereceiving apparatus above which is characterized in that the streamtransmission protocol is MPEG-2TS, streams are written on the cumulativemedium through isochronous transfer according to IEEE1394, and files arewritten on the cumulative medium through asynchronous transfer accordingto IEEE1394.

Further, for example, the present invention is directed to a cumulativebroadcasting system for implementing the data accumulation method above.

Hence, according to present invention, even when there is not aprocessing capacity to simultaneously write a stream representing videoand/or speech and write a file representing data content, as datacontent is multiplexed with video and/or speech as a stream, the videoand/or speech and the data content are accumulated as single stream.Since this reduces a processing load, real time performance is easilyguaranteed at the accumulation phase.

In addition, real time performance is not demanded for post-processingat the delayed decoding phase, it is possible to decode data contentfrom data which are accumulated within a low processing load rangewithout obstructing other processing performed by the receivingapparatus and to accumulate as a file.

This function not only allows to select an optimal processing speedunder the current situation even when processing by a hard disk isslowed down by reserved recording of other program, or even if a loadupon the CPU is great because of other calculation, or even if real timeprocessing is demanded during dialogue-based processing initiated by aviewer, but also permits to dynamically change the processing speed evenduring post-processing.

Further, for reproduction of accumulated data content, it is possible toreceive the same video/speech stream as that for the conventional methodas viewed from the AV decoder only if the data content is removed by thePID filter. Since the processing by the PID filter is independent of theCPU, there is no extra load imposed upon the CPU at this stage.

To be particularly noted, a stream containing a data carrousel onceaccumulated is not converted into a stream which contains only video andspeech but does not contain a data carrousel either at the accumulationphase, the delayed decoding phase or the reproduction phase. Since theprocessing of converting a stream which contains video and speechaccompanies processing of a very large volume of data, it is assumedthat a very large load will be imposed upon the accumulating means,however, such a large load will not arise according to the presentinvention.

Every one of these processing described above does not require aconventional receiving apparatus to additionally comprise specialhardware, and further reduces a load upon the CPU upon request ofprocessing by the cumulative medium, such as a hard disk, and receipt.

Because of this, it is possible to use a CPU, a hard disk and the likewhich are of low-performance but are inexpensive. Further, by means of afunction of so-called software download for upgrading the software ofthe receiving apparatus through broadcasting, it is possible to expandthe functions of a conventional receiving apparatus to the functions ofthe receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

Still further, as the processing according to the present invention iscarried out only when there is a large processing load and conventionalprocessing is otherwise executed, the receiving apparatus is energizedin a short period of time, thereby contributing to conservation ofelectric power.

In addition, since it is not necessary at all to change data to sendfrom the sending apparatus installed in a broadcasting station, aconventional receiving apparatus and the receiving apparatus accordingto the present invention may coexist, which allows to introduce thereceiving apparatus according to the present invention without changinga conventional receiving apparatus.

The entire disclosure of the literature mentioned above is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As clearly described above, the present invention is advantageous inthat it is possible to realize an inexpensive cumulative broadcastingservice without missing some of data content, meta data and video andspeech or adversely influencing other data processing.

1. A receive accumulating apparatus configured to receive i) at leastone of video and speech data and ii) file-format data which are sent asthey are multiplexed with each other from the side of a sendingapparatus, which multiplexes i) at least one of video and speech dataencoded based on a stream transmission protocol and ii) file-format dataencoded based on a file transmission protocol with each other and sendsi) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-formatdata as a single stream, and temporarily accumulating, in apredetermined accumulation area, i) at least one of said video andspeech data and ii) said file-format data as they directly are in theform of a single stream, wherein all or some of said file-format dataare decoded later at predetermined timing and accumulated in anotheraccumulation area, which is different from said predeterminedaccumulation area, once again as a file, i) at least one of said videoand speech data and ii) said file-format data which are temporarilyaccumulated in said predetermined accumulation area as a single streamare reproduced by utilizing all or some of said file-format data whichare accumulated in said another accumulation area once again, a PIDfilter capable of performing separation of i) at least one of said videoand speech data and ii) said file-format data is utilized, a PIDcorresponding to at least one of said video and speech data and a PIDcorresponding to said file-format data are set up in order for said PIDfilter not to perform said separation so that i) at least one of saidvideo and speech data and ii) said file-format data are both passedthrough the PID filter without being filtered to be temporarilyaccumulated directly in the form of a single stream, in saidpredetermined accumulation area, and said PID corresponding to saidfile-format data is set up in order for said PID filter to perform saidseparation so that said all or some of said file-format data are decodedlater at said predetermined timing, when a load upon the receiveaccumulating apparatus becomes smaller than a predetermined value afteri) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-formatdata have been accumulated in said predetermined accumulation area, andaccumulated in said another accumulation area once again as a file. 2.The receive accumulating apparatus of claim 1, wherein i) at least oneof said video and speech data and ii) said file-format data which aretemporarily accumulated in said predetermined accumulation area as asingle stream are reproduced by utilizing at least one of said video andspeech data which are extracted from said single stream.
 3. The receiveaccumulating apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined timing issuch timing which does not obstruct predetermined data processing whichneeds in real time.
 4. The receive accumulating apparatus of claim 1,wherein decoding of all or some of said file-format data is executed ata predetermined processing speed.
 5. The receive accumulating apparatusof claim 1, wherein said file-format data contain meta data, there is atemporary memory which temporarily stores said meta data, and said metadata are stored in said temporary memory after decoded at saidpredetermined timing as said file-format data, and used for managementof said data which are accumulated.
 6. The receive accumulatingapparatus of any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein (1) accumulation ofi) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-formatdata which are to be temporarily accumulated as a single stream and (2)accumulation of all or some of said file-format data which are to bedecoded and accumulated once again as a file are executed usingaccumulation areas which are at least physically or logically differentfrom each other.
 7. The receive accumulating apparatus of claim 6,wherein said stream transmission protocol is at least one of MPEG Videoand MPEG Audio, said file transmission protocol is a DSM-CC datacarrousel, and the format of said single stream is MPEG-2TS.
 8. Thereceive accumulating apparatus of claim 7, wherein temporaryaccumulation of i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data as a single stream is carried out throughisochronous transfer according to IEEE1394, and re-accumulation of allor some of said file-format data as a file is carried out throughasynchronous transfer according to IEEE1394.
 9. A broadcasting systemwhich comprises: a sending apparatus which multiplexes i) at least oneof video and speech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocoland ii) file-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocolwith each other and sends i) at least one of said video and speech dataand ii) said file-format data as a single stream; and a receiveaccumulating apparatus which receives i) at least one of said video andspeech data and ii) said file-format data which are sent as multiplexedwith each other and temporarily accumulates, in a predeterminedaccumulation area, i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data as they directly are in the form of a singlestream, wherein all or some of said file-format data are decoded laterat predetermined timing and accumulated in another accumulation area,which is different from said predetermined accumulation area, once againas a file, i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data which are temporarily accumulated in said predeterminedaccumulation area as a single stream are reproduced by utilizing all orsome of said file-format data which are accumulated in said anotheraccumulation area once again, a PID filter capable of performingseparation of i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data is utilized, a PID corresponding to at least one ofsaid video and speech data and a PID corresponding to said file-formatdata are set up in order for said PID filter not to perform saidseparation so that i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data are both passed through said PID filter withoutbeing filtered to be temporarily accumulated directly in the form of asingle stream, in said predetermined accumulation area, and said PIDcorresponding to said file-format data is set up in order for said PIDfilter to perform said separation so that said all or some of saidfile-format data are decoded later at said predetermined timing, when aload upon the receive accumulating apparatus becomes smaller than apredetermined value after i) at least one of said video and speech dataand ii) said file-format data have been accumulated in saidpredetermined accumulation area, and accumulated in said anotheraccumulation area once again as a file.
 10. A receive accumulatingmethod, comprising: an accumulating step of receiving i) at least one ofvideo and speech data and ii) file-format data which are sent asmultiplexed with each other from the side of a sending apparatus, whichmultiplexes i) at least one of video and speech data encoded based on astream transmission protocol and ii) file-format data encoded based on afile transmission protocol with each other and sends i) at least one ofsaid video and speech data and ii) said file-format data as a singlestream, and temporarily accumulating, in a predetermined accumulationarea, i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data as they directly are in the form of a single stream; adecoding step of decoding all or some of said file-format data later atpredetermined timing and accumulating in another accumulation area,which is different from said predetermined accumulation area, said allor some of said file-format data once again as a file; and a reproducingstep of reproducing i) at least one of said video and speech data andii) said file-format data which are temporarily accumulated in saidpredetermined accumulation area as a single stream by utilizing all orsome of said file-format data which are accumulated in said anotheraccumulation area once again, wherein a PID filter capable of performingseparation of i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data is utilized, a PID corresponding to at least one ofsaid video and speech data and a PID corresponding to said file-formatdata are set up in order for said PID filter not to perform saidseparation so that i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data are both passed through said PID filter withoutbeing filtered to be temporarily accumulated directly in the form of asingle stream, in said predetermined accumulation area, and said PIDcorresponding to said file-format data is set up in order for said PIDfilter to perform said separation so that said all or some of saidfile-format data are decoded later at said predetermined timing, when aload upon the receive accumulating apparatus becomes smaller than apredetermined value after i) at least one of said video and speech dataand ii) said file-format data have been accumulated in saidpredetermined accumulation area, and accumulated in said anotheraccumulation area once again as a file.
 11. A broadcasting method,comprising: a sending step of multiplexing i) at least one of video andspeech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocol and ii)file-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocol with eachother and sending i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data as a single stream; an accumulating step ofreceiving i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data which are sent as multiplexed with each other andtemporarily accumulating, in a predetermined accumulation area, i) atleast one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format data asthey directly are in the form of a single stream; a decoding step ofdecoding all or some of said file-format data later at predeterminedtiming and accumulating in another accumulation area, which is differentfrom said predetermined accumulation area, said all or some of saidfile-format data once again as a file; and a reproducing step ofreproducing i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data which are temporarily accumulated in said predeterminedaccumulation area as a single stream by utilizing all or some of saidfile-format data which are accumulated in said another accumulation areaonce again, wherein a PID filter capable of performing separation of i)at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format datais utilized, a PID corresponding to i) at least one of said video andspeech data and a PID corresponding to said file-format data are set upin order for said PID filter not to perform said separation so that i)at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format dataare both passed through said PID filter without being filtered to betemporarily accumulated directly in the form of a single stream, in saidpredetermined accumulation area, and said PID corresponding to saidfile-format data is set up in order for said PID filter to perform saidseparation so that said all or some of said file-format data are decodedlater at said predetermined timing, when a load upon the receiveaccumulating apparatus becomes smaller than a predetermined value afteri) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-formatdata have been accumulated in said predetermined accumulation area, andaccumulated in said another accumulation area once again as a file. 12.A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium configured to recorda program, which program causes a computer to act as the accumulatingstep of receiving i) at least one of video and speech data and ii)file-format data which are sent as multiplexed with each other from theside of a sending apparatus, which multiplexes i) at least one of videoand speech data encoded based on a stream transmission protocol and ii)file-format data encoded based on a file transmission protocol with eachother and sends i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii)said file-format data as a single stream, and temporarily accumulating,in a predetermined accumulation area, i) at least one of said video andspeech data and ii) said file-format data as they directly are in theform of a single stream, to act as the decoding step of decoding all orsome of said file-format data later at predetermined timing andaccumulating in another accumulation area, which is different from saidpredetermined accumulation area, said all or some of said file-formatdata once again as a file, and to act as the reproducing step ofreproducing i) at least one of said video and speech data and ii) saidfile-format data which are temporarily accumulated in said predeterminedaccumulation area as a single stream by utilizing all or some of saidfile-format data which are accumulated in said another accumulation areaonce again, in the receive accumulating method according to claim 10.13. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium configured torecord a program, which program causes a computer to act as the sendingstep of multiplexing i) at least one of video and/or speech data encodedbased on a stream transmission protocol and ii) file-format data encodedbased on a file transmission protocol with each other and sending i) atleast one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format data asa single stream, to act as the accumulating step of receiving i) atleast one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format datawhich are sent as multiplexed with each other and temporarilyaccumulating, in a predetermined accumulation area, i) at least one ofsaid video and speech data and ii) said file-format data as theydirectly are in the form of a single stream, to act as the decoding stepof decoding all or some of said file-format data later at predeterminedtiming and accumulating in another accumulation area, which is differentfrom said predetermined accumulation area, said all or some of saidfile-format data once again as a file, and to act as the reproducingstep of reproducing i) at least one of said video and speech data andii) said file-format data which are temporarily accumulated in saidpredetermined accumulation area as a single stream by utilizing all orsome of said file-format data which are accumulated in said anotheraccumulation area once again, in the broadcasting method according toclaim
 11. 14. The receive accumulating method of claim 10, wherein i) atleast one of said video and speech data and ii) said file-format datawhich are temporarily accumulated in said predetermined accumulationarea as a single stream are reproduced by utilizing at least one of saidvideo and speech data which are extracted from said single stream.